Young Dressage Stallions

KatyM · Well Schooled

Young Dressage Stallions

prospect · Advanced

lovely looking horse but I have huge issues of what they are asking of a horse that is only (and probably not yet) 3 years old - that makes me very unhappy. He is way to young to be asked for that much - shame on the trainers for pushing a young horse so much.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Prospect: I think the video is just dated 2009, I believe the opening credits say (in French) that he is/was the Champion in Germany at 6 years... I could be wrong ;)

Katy: I don't see a lot of young dressage prospects much around here but BOY do I see a ton and I mean a ton of very young horses being asked to do quality reining work. I've seen countless videos of 2 year olds doing sliding stops and rollbacks. It's almost sickening. They are gorgeous but it's just... sad.

ETA: Oh, I watched the first video now and saw the caption stating he was born in 2008. Apologies. Perhaps they meant that his lineage was full of German/World champions? Not sure. I agree that young horses shouldn't be pushed so darn much so early, though!

-- Edited by Barnmouser Ash on Wednesday 19th of January 2011 01:54:09 PM

KatyM · Well Schooled

You know, I noticed the 2008 date as birth year, and in my ever-so-humble opinion, that horse is simply not a 2 year old. (I hope I don't have to eat those words!) I believe it is a mistake in the video/blurb ad/write-up. I think I'll ask just to be sure, but I'm pretty confidant he's not a 2-yo. I've been around many youngsters and in my experience, they don't look like that. Although in the video they're just doing w-t-c work, the horse looks pretty well developed.

Also, I believe the general practice in Germany is to start them in their 3-yo year, although they do prep them for stallion testing so bring them along fairly quickly for that.

Off to ask a question - will report back what I find!

MagsNMe · Advanced

Unfortunately, or fortunately, we are breeding horses that are more and and more capable in sport, but just because you CAN ride them like this when they are rising three doesn't mean you SHOULD.

There are million Sandro Hit sons out there, but they tend towards a bit hot. My favourite is Samba Hit III, I actually have a couple doses of him sitting and waiting.

I personally don't think people put enough emphasis on having a good mare to breed these phenoms to.

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

Sandro Hit also showed a pretty good rider!

MagsNMe · Advanced

The way I understand it, he needs one. Oh but the talent!

Why why why do the talented ones have the attitude to go with it?

prospect · Advanced

KatyM wrote:

You know, I noticed the 2008 date as birth year, and in my ever-so-humble opinion, that horse is simply not a 2 year old. (I hope I don't have to eat those words!) I believe it is a mistake in the video/blurb ad/write-up. I think I'll ask just to be sure, but I'm pretty confidant he's not a 2-yo.

They are advertising him as a 2012 4 yr old fei prospect - so indeed he must be a rising 3 yr old. I wish I could say what I really think of this

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Ouch... I can't believe a 2 year old is already capable of such maneuvers...

KatyM · Well Schooled

Yes, I went back and checked the website. Now that I think about it a bit more, I'm remembering that they start them younger when they are candidates for the auctions, or for the stallion testing. So, walk, trot, canter in the spring, maybe some time off, then more work fall, or winter.

A lot of horses go through this system. I'm neither for it or against it - I think a lot depends on the individual. The youngster in this video looks very sound and certainly doesn't look unhappy or sour.

What the future holds for these horses, I don't know. There are a lot of them that go through the auctions and go on to have good careers. Maybe there a lot that end up with problems.

At any rate, I just posted this because I thought he was a lovely young horse.

Does anyone else have videos of nice young horses? Any of you breeding want to share vids of your youngsters, under saddle or not!